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Google's ad business could get a lot stronger - thanks to you, the willful consumer.

Earlier this year, Apple got into trouble for recording users' location data in their iOS devices. A few months later, Microsoft was accused of doing the same thing.

Why all the fuss? The simple answer is that consumers don't really want to be tracked. They'll accept it if they must, but do it behind their backs and they will not respond kindly. If more people knew the truth about OnStar, General Motors would be in trouble.

We all have a price, however. I, for one, allowed a record label to detect (but not track) my location in exchange for early access to the new Blink-182 CD, Neighborhoods. I also accept the reality that by using Google Maps, MapQuest, and other mapping services, I am sharing information about the places I plan to visit.

By carrying a cell phone, I have to live with the fact that Sprint may know a thing or two about my talking/texting habits. I understand that by signing into Xbox Live or PlayStation Network, Microsoft and Sony will learn about the games I am playing, the demos I download, the videos I watch, and anything else I do through their services.

Right now, I'm listening to Los Campesinos! on Spotify. Considering how many ads come through the freebie version of the service, it's safe to assume that a lot of cookies (if not a light version of spyware) have been installed on my computer. One can only imagine how often Spotify takes advantage of that.

Then there's Facebook, a company that wants to know everything about every person in the world. But for every one consumer that has fought against the social network, there are dozens who don't seem to care.

With this in mind, Google has taken its awesome map technology indoors. Android phone users can now access location-specific maps of select airports, museums, malls, and department stores. This feature is simple but brilliant. Click the above link for moreinformation (and a cool video that shows the indoor maps in action).

The problem with the indoor maps is that, whether Google has permission to track your location or not, users will essentially hand over that permission every time they look at a map. First, we are instantly telling Google where we are. Second, our exact location is shown on the map, which means that Google can find out which stores we visited in a mall, or which areas of a museum drew our interest. Google can find out which shops we visited at the airport, and so on.

Inevitably, some consumers won't care. Others will appreciate the perks. If Google notices that a particular user is headed for an airport vending machine, it could send him/her a coupon for Starbucks, potentially converting the sale of a $2 Pepsi into a $4 coffee. The opposite could occur as well, depending on which companies were using Google's ad network.

Is this really something to be concerned about? Am I and other location-wary consumers worried for nothing? No, we're not.